A New Wave: Scientists Write on Water

A new technology allows researchers to write on water.

The AMOEBA (Advanced Multiple Organized Experimental Basin), a circular tank created by Mitsui Engineering at their Akishima laboratory, is able form letters with standing waves.

This remarkable display device consists of fifty water-wave generators surrounding a cylindrical tank 5 feet wide and a foot deep. The wave generators move vertically to produce cylindrical waves. These “pixels” are about 4 inches in diameter and 1.5 inches in height; these form lines and shapes.

The AMOEBA device can form all of the roman alphabet, as well as some kanji characters.

Each letter takes about fifteen seconds to produce; Akishima Labs expects to sell the device to amusement parks in a package that combines acoustics, lighting and fountain technology.

This device is also a good first step to the watery alien creations in the 1989 movie “Abyss,” which combined futuristic underwater technology with alien first encounter. The great special effects were groundbreaking; CGI effects like the ability to create irreguar objects and soft-edged objects were perfected. Convincing integration of CGI with the live action sequence was also achieved.

If Akishima Labs maintains steady progress, it may be possible to achieve alien effects in fountains or other media.

Source: LiveScience
Written By: Bill Christensen for Technovelgy